A foster-family-based treatment program recruits couples from the community that are willing to learn a set of treatment procedures and accept a disturbed or disturbing child or youth into their family. The couples apply the learned procedures consistently, and under supervision, while they also provide good care and parenting. Though superficially similar to foster care, foster-family-based treatment exists for the purpose of providing treatment, and not just food, clothing, and protection. Ten aspects differentiate the two types of services. A recent development, foster-family-based treatment does not fit neatly into any existing discipline, such as social work, special education, or psychology. Its intrinsic advantages include minimal restrictiveness and maximal generality with regard to the behaviors and situations it can address. Experience with the treatment indicates that foster-family-based treatment can also be intensive, in that it uses several powerful treatment technologies that converge to yield major changes in very significant behaviors. (RH)